Graça Machel:
Good morning. Audience:
Good morning. Graça Machel:
I have today the immense
pleasure of introducing to you Mrs. Michelle Obama, who will
be coming soon to address you, the First Lady of the
United States of America. I'd like to address
Michelle first. It was 35 years ago this month
on the 16th of June '76, that young people here in Soweto
sought the refuge from a brutal backlash from the apartheid
regime in response to their demands for quality education. Both before and after
this Soweto uprisings, Regina Mundi has become a place
which welcomes those who are struggling for liberation,
for people of all races and backgrounds, and seeking a
higher degree of justice. Justice for women's equality
in every sector of society, justice for the
poor, for children, and marginalized groups. Regina Mundi is a
symbol of resilience, triumph against adversity,
and young people's capacity to galvanize change. Regina Mundi remains a
heart for the community, and many who have met --
and continue to meet -- within its walls are connecting
the struggles of the past, the struggles of our times, and
the triumphs of the future. Your presence, Michelle, among
us today, has a symbolism. You may have been a toddler
when '76 uprising took place. Now, in your adulthood, you
come to us and you connect that history, and to say the triumphs
of yesterday have to be the triumphs of today, and you
are empowering young women to continue the struggle. So I see a chain from the '76 to
today and the young generation of women leaders who are
being empowered here today, and you are mentoring them. As a world renowned leader
working to address challenges you have observed, such as
childhood obesity in the United States, Regina Mundi welcomes
you and hopes that within these walls you will draw renewed
strength and encouragement as you continue to address the
issues that will pave the way towards a brighter
future for all -- A future that holds the
promises of economic, social, and political freedom. Regina Mundi's name in Latin
means "Queen of the World," and we all welcome you as a
daughter of African heritage, and we can call you
the "Queen of Our World." (applause) Young leaders, Mrs. Obama's
visit marks the culmination of a program of young African women
leaders who range in age from 16 to 30 years. This program has brought
together young leaders from across Africa to
start a conversation, establish a support network,
and generate ongoing mentorship. The young African women leaders
gathered here will also look at ways to respond to the challenge
that we face on our continent, such as health, quality
education, HIV/AIDS, and entrepreneurship for
development of our communities. So to you, young women leaders,
as you seek solutions to these challenges, you have before you
an inspiration in Mrs. Obama. From a relatively
modest start in life, she has risen to become one
of the undisputed leaders of our century. It is not the environment
you are born in, or your background -- or the
background that determines your potential, but the choices you
make and your determination to succeed. Michelle, as a professional, she
has pioneered and chartered her own course in life. As a partner, she stands
shoulder to shoulder with President Barack Obama, yet she
stands on her own with causes of her choice. As a mother, she ensures that
she continues to be there for Malia and Sasha, building
in them the foundation for successful adulthood. Michelle redefines womanhood
in the 21st century -- the modern woman. She doesn't
sacrifice her career, she doesn't sacrifice
motherhood, she doesn't sacrifice
her marriage. She is a feminist by practice
without shouting slogans. With immense grace she has
successfully demonstrated that these roles are not in conflict. On the contrary, they are in
perfect harmony and they make a woman a whole. She is a global citizen,
representing values men and women feel identified with and
they feel encouraged to emulate. Mrs. Obama is undeniably one
of the most powerful women in the world. Yet she remains accessible and
relates to all with the same elegance and simplicity:
from the ordinary to the extraordinary, to
the young and old, people of all social strata. As a leader, she illustrates
very clearly that you can be powerful -- very powerful
indeed -- without being aloof, without imposing, and
without being aggressive. And being a global leader
of African heritage, we take pride that you
reclaim our own humanity, the humanity of all people
of African heritage. We are privileged to
have here in our midst, the First Lady of the
United States, Mrs. Obama, as well as her mother,
Mrs. Robinson, and her two daughters,
Malia and Sasha. These generations of women,
firmly grounded in the knowledge of their past, forging
new paths in the present, and laying a strong
foundation for the future. In these amazing women, we
have an inspiration of multiple generations intertwined
in beautiful harmony. And we welcome you Mrs.
Robinson, Sasha and Malia, wherever you are -- can't
see you from here -- we are glad to have you. (applause) And now, back to
my young leaders. You, too, should know and draw
from the wisdom and richness of your past as you
build your future. Grasp all opportunities, make
them become possibilities. Run your race with
confidence and pride, knowing that the
sky is the limit. It is my privilege with these
words, and my immense pleasure, to introduce to you one of
the beautiful daughters of our times, one of the most inspiring
leaders of the world today who have already traced the path
of what it is to be a woman of modern times, of
our 21st century -- Mrs. Michelle Obama. (cheers and applause) Choir:
♪♪(singing)♪♪ First Lady Michelle Obama:
Oh! Oh. Thank you. Thank you so much. It is such a pleasure and an
honor to be here with all of you today. I want to start by thanking
Graça Machel for that just gracious, kind introduction. It is overwhelming. And I want to thank her for
her lifetime of service as a champion for women and children. And from the bottom of my heart,
I want to thank you for all of the kindness and generosity that
you have shown my family for our visit here. Thank you so much. (applause) I am also honored to share the
stage with another remarkable leader, Baleka Mbete. (applause) She has played a vital role in
advancing equality and promoting development here
in South Africa. Thank you to the both of you for
joining us here for sharing this moment with all of us. I also want to thank the
Archbishop of Johannesburg for honoring us today
with his presence. And of course, I want to
recognize our guests of honor -- these 76 extraordinary young
women leaders from here in South Africa and across the continent. (applause) These are young women
transforming their communities and their countries, and let me
tell you I am so impressed by all of them. I am so proud of everything
they have achieved. And finally, I want to thank the
leaders and the congregation of Regina Mundi for hosting us
in this sacred space today. It has been more
than three decades, but those bullet
holes in the ceiling, this broken altar still stand as
vivid reminders of the history that unfolded here. And you all know the story --
how 35 years ago this month, a group of students planned
a peaceful protest to express their outrage over a new law
requiring them to take courses in Afrikaans. Thousands of them
took to the streets, intending to march
to Orlando Stadium. But when security
forces opened fire, some fled here to this church. The police followed, first with
tear gas, and then with bullets. And while no one was killed
within this sanctuary, hundreds lost their
lives that day, including a boy named
Hector Pieterson, who was just 12 years
old, and Hastings Ndlovu, who was just 15. Many of the students hadn't even
known about the protest when they arrived at
school that morning. But they agreed to take part,
knowing full well the dangers involved, because they were
determined to get an education worthy of their potential. And as the Archbishop noted,
that June day wasn't the first, or the last, time that
this church stood in the crosscurrents of history. It was referred to as "the
parliament of Soweto." When the congregation
sang their hymns, activists would make plans,
singing the locations and times of secret meetings. Church services,
and even funerals, often became
anti-Apartheid rallies. And as President
Mandela once put it, "Regina Mundi became a
world-wide symbol of the determination of our
people to free themselves." It is a story that has unfolded
across this country and across this continent, and
also in my country -- the story of young people
20 years ago, 50 years ago, who marched until
their feet were raw, who endured beatings and bullets
and decades behind bars, who risked, and sacrificed,
everything they had for the freedom they deserved. And it is because of them
that we are able to gather here today. It is because of them that
so many of these young women leaders can now
pursue their dreams. It is because of them that I
stand before you as First Lady of the United States of America. (cheers and applause) That is the legacy of the
independence generation, the freedom generation. And all of you -- the young
people of this continent -- you are the heirs of that blood,
sweat, sacrifice, and love. So the question today
is, what will you make of that inheritance? What legacy will you leave
for your children and your grandchildren? What generation will you be? Now, I could ask these questions
of young people in any country, on any continent. But there is a reason why I
wanted to come here to South Africa to speak with all of you. As my husband has said, Africa
is a fundamental part of our interconnected world. And when it comes to the
defining challenges of our times -- creating jobs in
our global economy, promoting democracy
and development, confronting climate
change, extremism, poverty and disease
-- for all this, the world is looking to
Africa as a vital partner. That is why my husband's
administration is not simply focused on extending a
helping hand to Africa, but focusing on partnering with
Africans who will shape their future by combating corruption,
and building strong democratic institutions, by growing new
crops, caring for the sick. And more than ever before, we
will be looking to all of you, our young people,
to lead the way. And I'm not just saying that
to make you all feel good. (laughter) The fact is that in Africa,
people under 25 make up 60% of the population. And here in South Africa, nearly
two-thirds of citizens are under the age of 30. So over the next 20
years, the next 50 years, our future will be shaped
by your leadership. And I want to pause for a moment
on that word -- leadership -- because I know that so often,
when we think about what that word means, what it
means to be a leader, we think of presidents
and prime ministers. We think of people who pass
laws or command armies, run big businesses, people with
fancy titles, big salaries. And most young people
don't fit that image. And I know that often when you
try to make your voices heard, sometimes people
don't always listen. I know there are those who
discount your opinions, who tell you you're not ready,
who say that you should sit back and wait your turn. But I am here today because when
it comes to the challenges we face, we simply don't have
time to sit back and wait. I'm here because I believe
that each of you is ready, right here and right now, to
start meeting these challenges. And I am here because I know
that true leadership -- leadership that lifts families,
leadership that sustains communities and
transforms nations -- that kind of leadership
rarely starts in palaces or parliaments. That kind of leadership is not
limited only to those of a certain age or status. And that kind of leadership is
not just about dramatic events that change the course of
history in an instant. Instead, true leadership often
happens with the smallest acts, in the most unexpected
places, by the most unlikely individuals. I mean, think about what
happened here in Soweto 35 years ago. Many of the students who led
the uprising were younger than all of you. They carried signs made
of cardboard boxes and canvas sacks. Yet together, they propelled
this cause into the consciousness of the world. And we now celebrate National
Youth Day and National Youth Month every year in their honor. I mean, think about the
giants of the struggle -- people like Albertina
Sisulu, whose recent passing we all mourn. Orphaned as a teenager, she
worked as a nurse to support her siblings. And when her husband,
Walter Sisulu, became Secretary-General
of the ANC, it was up to her to
provide for their family. When he was imprisoned
for 26 years, it was up to her to
continue his work. And that she did. With a mother's fierce
love for this country, she threw herself
into the struggle. She led boycotts and
sit-ins and marches, including the 1956
Women's March, when thousands of women
from across this country, converged on Pretoria to
protest the pass laws. They were women of every color,
many of them not much older than all of you. Some of them carried their
babies on their backs. And for 30 minutes, they
stood in complete silence, raising their voices only
to sing freedom songs, like Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica. Their motto was simple, but
clear: "If you strike a woman, you strike a rock." (cheers and applause) Ma Sisulu, the students of
Soweto, those women in Pretoria, they had little money,
even less status, no fancy titles to speak of. But what they had was their
vision for a free South Africa. What they had was an unshakeable
belief that they were worthy of that freedom -- and they had the
courage to act on that belief. Each of them chose to
be a rock for justice. And with countless acts of
daring and defiance, together, they transformed this nation. Together they paved the way
for free and fair elections, for a process of healing
and reconciliation, and for the rise of South Africa
as a political and economic leader on the world stage. Now, I know that as your
generation looks back on that struggle, and on the many
liberation movements of the past century, you may think that all
of the great moral struggles have already been won. As you hear the stories of lions
like Madiba and Sisulu and Luthuli, you may think that
you can never measure up to such greatness. But while today's challenges
might not always inspire the lofty rhetoric or the high
drama of struggles past, the injustices at hand
are no less glaring, the human suffering
no less acute. So make no mistake about it:
There are still so many causes worth sacrificing for. There is still so much
history yet to be made. You can be the generation that
makes the discoveries and builds the industries that will
transform our economies. You can be the generation
that brings opportunity and prosperity to forgotten corners
of the world and banishes hunger from this continent forever. You can be the generation that
ends HIV/AIDS in our time -- (applause) -- the generation that
fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease,
the generation that teaches the world that HIV is fully
preventable, and treatable, and should never be
a source of shame. (applause) You can be the generation that
holds your leaders accountable for open, honest
government at every level, government that stamps out
corruption and protects the rights of every citizen to speak
freely, to worship openly, to love whomever they choose. You can be the generation to
ensure that women are no longer second-class citizens, that
girls take their rightful places in our schools. (applause) You can be the generation that
stands up and says that violence against women in any
form, in any place -- (applause) -- including the home --
especially the home -- that isn't just a
women's rights violation. It's a human rights violation. And it has no place
in any society. You see, that is the history
that your generation can make. Now, I have to be honest. Your efforts might not always
draw the world's attention, except for today. (laughter) You may not find yourself
leading passionate protests that fill stadiums and shut
down city streets. And the change you seek may
come slowly, little by little, measured not by sweeping
changes in the law, but by daily improvements
in people's lives. But I can tell you from
my own experience -- and from my husband's
experience -- that this work is no less
meaningful, no less inspiring, and no less urgent than what you
read about in the history books. You see, it wasn't that long
ago that my husband and I were young, believe it or not -- (laughter) -- just starting
out our careers. After he graduated
from university, Barack got a job as a community
organizer in the struggling neighborhoods on the
South Side of Chicago. A lot of people there were out
of work and barely getting by. Children had few opportunities
and little hope for their future. And trust me, no one thought
that this skinny kid with the funny name -- (laughter) -- could make much
of a difference. But Barack started
talking to people. He urged them to start
working on the change they wanted to see. Soon, slowly, folks started
coming together to fight for job training programs and better
schools and safer housing for their families. Slowly, the neighborhoods
started to turn around. Little by little, people
started feeling hopeful again. And that made
Barack feel hopeful. And I had a similar
experience in my own career. Like my husband, I came
from a modest background. My parents saved and sacrificed
everything they had so that I could get an education. And when I graduated, got a job
at a big, fancy law firm -- nice salary, big office. My friends were impressed. My family was proud. By all accounts, I
was living the dream. But I knew something
was missing. I knew I didn't want to be way
up in some tall building all alone in an office
writing memos. I wanted to be down on the
ground working with kids, helping families put food
on the table and a roof over their heads. So I left that job for a new
job training young people like yourselves for careers
in public service. I was making a lot less money. My office wasn't so nice. (laughter) But every day, I got to watch
those young people gain skills and build confidence. And then I saw them go on
to mentor and inspire other young people. And that made me feel inspired. It still does. See, my husband and I, we
didn't change any laws, we didn't win any awards, get
our pictures in the paper. But we were making a
difference in people's lives. We were part of something
greater than ourselves. And we knew that in
our own small way, we were helping to
build a better world. And that is precisely what so
many young people are doing every day across this continent. These 76 young women are
outstanding examples. Take Gqibelo Dandala from
here in South Africa. She left a lucrative career in
investment banking to found the Future of the African
Daughter Project, an organization that lifts
up young women in rural and township areas. Of her work, she says: "...we
are building a legacy which will outlive and outgrow us..." And then there's Robyn Kriel. She's a young reporter from
Zimbabwe who has written about corruption and human rights
abuses in her country. She was beaten by
police; her home raided, her mother imprisoned. But she still hasn't lost her
passion for reporting, because, as she put it, the people of
Zimbabwe "want their stories to be told." And then there's Grace Nanyonga,
who joins us today from Uganda. Hey, Grace! (applause) You go, girl. (laughter) Orphaned at the age of 13, she
started cooking and selling fish during her school vacations
to support her six siblings. Determined to get an education,
she founded her own company, and she made enough money to
put herself through university. And she's now started an
organization that trains local women to work at her company
so that they can support their own families. (applause) Of her achievements, she says,
simply -- these are her words -- "I made it against all odds" and
"I want to be an example for girls in my country and beyond." Now, Grace could have been
content to make lots of money, and just provide
for her own family. Gqibelo could have climbed
the corporate ladder, and never looked back. Where is she? Please stand. Grace got to stand. (laughter) Come on, where is she? Is she out there? (applause) And no one would've blamed
Robyn -- where's Robyn? (applause) No one would have blamed Robyn
if after all she'd been through she decided to quit reporting
and pursue an easier career. But these young women -- and
these are just examples of stories that go on and on --
these young women could not be content with their own comfort
and success when they knew that other people were struggling. You see, that's how people of
conscience view the world. It's the belief, as
my husband often says, that if any child goes
hungry, that matters to me, even if she's not my child. (applause) If any family is
devastated by disease, then I cannot be content
with my own good health. If anyone is persecuted
because of how they look, or what they believe, then
that diminishes my freedom and threatens my rights as well. And in the end, that sense
of interconnectedness, that depth of compassion, that
determination to act in the face of impossible odds, those are
the qualities of mind and heart that I hope will
define your generation. I hope that all of you will
reject the false comfort that others' suffering
is not your concern, or if you can't solve
all the world's problems, then you shouldn't even try. Instead, as one of our
great American presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, liked to say,
I hope that you will commit yourselves to doing "what you
can, with what you've got, where you are,"
because in the end, that is what makes you a lion. Not fortune, not fame, not your
pictures in history books, but the refusal to remain a
bystander when others are suffering, and that commitment
to serve however you can, where you are. Now, it will not be easy. You women know that already. You will have failures and
setbacks and critics and plenty of moments of
frustration and doubt. But if you ever
start to lose heart, I brought you all here today
because I want you to think of each other. Think about Grace, supporting
her family by herself. And think about Robyn, who
endured that beating so she could tell other
people's stories. Think about Ma Sisulu,
raising her kids alone, surviving banishment,
exile, and prison. You know, when reflecting on her
journey, Ma Sisulu once said, with her signature humility,
she said, "All these years, I never had a comfortable life." So you may not always
have a comfortable life. And you will not always be
able to solve all the world's problems all at once. But don't ever underestimate
the impact you can have, because history has shown us
that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on
a life of its own. It's what happens when folks
start asking questions -- a father asks, "Why should
my son go to school, but not my daughter?" Or a mother asks, "Why should I
pay a bribe to start a business to support my family?" Or a student stands up and
declares, "Yes, I have HIV, and here's how I'm treating it,
and here's how we can stop it from spreading." See, and then soon, they
inspire others to start asking questions. They inspire others to
start stepping forward. And those are the "ripples of
hope" that a young U.S. senator named Robert Kennedy spoke
of when he came here to South Africa 45 years ago this month. In his words, he said, the
"numberless diverse acts of courage and belief which can
sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." And that is how a church
can become a parliament. That is how a hymn can
be a call to action. That is how a group of young
people with nothing more than handmade signs and a belief in
their own God-given potential can galvanize a nation. And that's how young people
around the world can inspire each other, and draw
strength from each other. I'm thinking today of the young
activists who gathered at the American Library here in
Soweto to read the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King
for their inspiration. And I'm thinking of how Dr. King
drew inspiration from Chief Luthuli and the young people
here in South Africa. And I'm thinking about how young
South Africans singing the American civil rights anthem "We
Shall Overcome" in the streets of Cape Town and Durban. And I'm thinking of how Nkosi
Sikelel iAfrica echoed through university campuses in
the U.S., as students -- including my husband -- planned
boycotts to support students here in South Africa. And I'm thinking of this church
and how those stained windows depicting the struggle were
donated by the people of Poland, and how the peace pole in the
park outside was donated by people from Japan,
and how every week, visitors from every corner of
the globe come here to bear witness and draw inspiration
from your history. And finally, I'm thinking of
the history of my own country. I mean, America won its
independence more than two centuries ago. It has been nearly 50 years
since the victories of our own civil rights movement. Yet we still struggle every day
to perfect our union and live up to our ideals. And every day, it is our young
people who are leading the way. They are the ones
enlisting in our military. They're the ones teaching
in struggling schools, volunteering countless hours in
countless ways in communities. And in this last
presidential election, they were engaged in our
democracy like never before. They studied the issues,
followed the campaign, knocked on doors in the freezing
snow and the blazing sun, urging people to vote. They waited in line for
hours to cast their ballots. And I have seen
that same passion, that same determination to serve
in young people I have met all across the world, from
India to El Salvador, from Mexico to the United
Kingdom to here in South Africa. So today, I want you to know
that as you work to lift up your families, your communities,
your countries and your world, know that you are never alone. You are never alone. As Bobby Kennedy said here in
South Africa all those years ago: "...you are joined with
fellow young people in every land, they struggling with their
problems and you with yours, but all joined in a common
purpose...determined to build a better future." And if anyone of you ever doubts
that you can build that future, if anyone ever tells you that
you shouldn't or you can't, then I want you to
say with one voice -- the voice of a generation --
you tell them, "Yes, we can." What do you say? Yes, we can. What do you say? Yes, we can! What do you say? Audience:
Yes, we can! First Lady Michelle Obama:
Thank you all so much. God bless you. (cheers and applause)
